Industrialisation can spur construction of flats
EDITOR: I do suspect that urban councils have town planners, contrary to the suspicion raised by your editorial comment yesterday. The previous administration of former president Mugabe embarked on a self-destructive policy of unplanned urbanisation to increase its support base, at the same time as kingpins in its structures made money by selling State land.
This may explain the origins of land barons of which very few, if any, have been brought to book. The result of this politics is that it crippled economic development, led to a decay of the cities, degradation of city infrastructure — including roads, water and sewage works.
That, in turn has brought about diseases and other social and economic vices, abuse of agriculture land included.
Whilst the need for housing may be there, there is no demand. And the source of this situation is high levels of unemployment and under-employment. It is this problem that needs sorting out.
Get Ziscosteel, NRZ and HCCL, up and running again, exporting 50 million tonnes apiece of high quality coal, iron ore and steel per annum, and you will have a modern Kwekwe, a rejuvenated Bulawayo and a modern renewed Hwange town, complete with modern high-rise flats, pumping again.
Create a viable, high productivity citrus fruit growing industry in Chivi, Gutu and Zaka, complete with drip irrigation and hard currency paying export markets, and labour will migrate from urban areas to those regions.
It is as simple as that — were it not for poor governance, greed, malice, corruption and a selfish culture, we could be better off. Raise Badza